Colorado Senior Bilked by Scam with Arizona Connection

(Phoenix, AZ—March 1, 2003) Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard is warning Arizonans to be wary of a recent scam that bilked a Colorado widow out of $3,300.

The woman was called by someone who claimed to be an official with a major bank. He said that he understood that she had had some dealings with Publisher’s Clearing House a few years ago, but had not joined the multi-state lawsuit that was settled against them. He said that she was now eligible for $1 million. He directed her to wire $3,300 to a man in Phoenix, Arizona and that they would deliver the check for $1 million that afternoon. He advised her not to tell anyone, especially the IRS, because he was going to save her the $388,000 she would have had to pay in taxes. The woman sent the money and, of course, the $1 million check was never delivered.

“When he sounds too good to be true, it usually is,” said Goddard. “No one with a major lending institution would ever direct a person to not tell anyone, especially the IRS. This is particularly reprehensible because it seems to prey on seniors who can ill afford this kind of loss. If you receive a call that seems questionable, please call our office before taking any action. If it is a legitimate claim, all you’ve lost is a little time. If not, you could be out a lot of money.”

If you suspect a scam, please get as much information as possible from the caller, including a call back telephone number, and call the Attorney General’s Consumer Information and Complaint division at (602) 542-5763 or toll-free at (800) 352-8431.